Piano Concerto no.1 in C major for Piano, Trumpet & Strings, op.35
Piano Concerto no.2 in F major, op.102
Three Fantastic Dances, op.5
3 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Dmitri Shostakovich, piano - Ludovic Vaillant, trumpet - French National Radio Orchestra conducted by Andre Cluytens
EMI/World Records SH 293 1979 LP (first UK release) Matrices: XLX 779 -2 / XLX 778 -2.
Recorded: 24-26/30 May / 12 September 1958 - Salle Wagram, Paris (mono only)
Transfer level is slightly lower than normal (although the recorder peaked @ 0dB) - and the LP sound wasn't exactly 'master-tape'; also with some tape compression/modulation.. Sleeve-note / 1962 EMG review >>>
I've always loved these recordings by Shostakovich.
ReplyDeleteHow does it compare to the EMI CD then?!
DeleteInteresting pieces - though, effecting rather bafflement than emotional response or aesthetic admiration. The transfer, however, is stunning, apart from the compression (which i think i do notice) near perfect (for CD quality!)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much - doubt would have ever heard these if you hadn't put them up!
The EMI CD is cheap on Amazon: apparently sounding 'the best' - but see it has ART processing.
DeleteMaybe the original recording wasn't too good as I disposed of the Cluytens Shostakovich Sym.11 on Columbia 33CX's of a similar recording date; but this LP has aspects that suggest a Dolby copy-tape is the source.
The music is very 'lightweight' and I probably prefer John Ogdon's 1970 HMV version of the 2nd (ASD2709: the original US Angel sounds good as well) - though don't recall listening to his 1970 Argo version (ZRG674) of the 1st - but bought the HMV - with its 'spooky' Ogdon PC - over 40 years back..
Only uploaded this as this blog hasn't had much 'new'; next up maybe some more Shostakovich (Sym.6/Gauk - Sym.12/Mravinsky) - or maybe Varese/Robert Craft..??
i see.
DeleteIf the last is at least to a degree a gallup-like question, personally i'm doubtful if i could 'understand' a composer like Varese (of such, admittedly Schnittke actually succeeds in being more than just interesting, so Varese could surprise me, too!), but Gauk/Mravinsky Shostakovich sounds like everyone should hear those. ;) Just my opinion.
Maybe I should start a Poll?
DeleteSo that's probably ONE vote FOR....and, err... ONE vote AGAINST Gauk/Mravinsky....???!!!
(Actually; both are excellent: checking; I saw the Mravinsky was also subjected to 'CD fakery' in a 'Praga' box-set: pretended to be a 'live' performance - with some added applause: now; who does that remind me of....)
Ha-ha! Reminds me of partly faked (commercially released) "live"-recordings of Yuja Wang (not that it matters, don't listen to her...), where parts played in studio are mixed in, so...
DeleteAnd sorry, seems polls need to be simpler to be effective... better not to poll.
I adore this particular LP. I bought it here and that is how I found one of Shostakovich's short three pieces which were amongst the trickiest piano works among his literature for the piano, which is huge. These 3 Fantastic Dances were fascinating. I needed someone to show me a language which I had never played. So I bought the LP. These three little works were so special. You needed some innate rhythm and setting your phrasing. It was mind blowing to work out his harmonies and take in the sounds he created. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't have the HMV/Melodiya box-set of some of his recordings (quite forgotten the contents) but probably intended getting it on eBay (am also missing the Oistrakh HMV/Melodiya box) around that time but haven't checked, generally, in nearly a decade; especially as 'asking prices' became Banana's.
DeleteDo have Christina Ortiz's version's of these 3 works on HMV ASD 3081 (no idea of the current CD status).